Fluorochemicals

Overview  |  Refrigerants  |  Foams Solvents & Aerosols

Foam-Blowing Agents

High-efficiency insulating materials use fluorochemicals to expand a variety of polymers into insulating foam. In this application the blowing agent must be soluble in the polymer melt and boil under the processing conditions such that small uniform foam cells are produced. When fluorochemicals are used to produce the foam, the cells remain filled with the low conductivity fluorochemical gasses, which improve the efficiency of the insulation.

The fluorochemicals research group developed the predominant HCFC blowing agents used in both polyurethane and extruded polystyrene foam insulation since the mid-1990s and Arkema continues as the leading producer of these materials today.

Arkema continues to service this industry by supplying HFC blowing agents and by developing non-fluorochemical blowing agents and alternative products, such as viscosity and solubility modifiers and flame retardants.

Solvents & Aerosols

Fluorochemicals also serve as non-flammable, non-toxic solvents in such critical applications as cleaning electronic parts, and manufacturing medical syringes and catheters, as well as aerosol propellants in asthma inhalers.

As with our other businesses, the fluorochemcials applications research group continues to develop new formulations that provide safe and efficient products while reducing or eliminating the ozone depleting chemicals used in these applications today.

International Efforts

Arkema continues to support the refrigerants, foam-blowing agents, solvents and aerosols businesses with research teams and pilot facilities in Pierre-Benite, France, and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. These teams consist of catalyst chemists, process engineers, systems engineers and application engineers. These researchers:

• Develop and improve both gas and liquid phase fluorination processes.
• Develop methods of using these materials in a variety of applications.
• Identify new applications and materials for the industries we serve.

In addition to taking advantage of internal resources, Arkema encourages its scientists to seek out and work in conjunction with other scientists in both industrial and academic settings worldwide.

Visit our Foams, Solvents & Aerosols page for additional information.